Managing Attorney

This job posting was opened on 4/10/25. Please note that we will be prioritizing candidates who are current IRC (and recently employed by IRC) staff before other applicants. If necessary, we will extend the opportunity to external candidates.

IRC BACKGROUND:

The IRC's Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in the US. RAI serves nearly 50,000 individuals each year in the US through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at achieving outcomes in five impact areas: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education, and Power.

IRC seeks a Managing Attorney to lead and supervise a team of attorneys and Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives based in Oakland, Sacramento, and Turlock. All attorneys and DOJ accredited representatives provide affirmative services. In addition, removal defense services are provided in Turlock and Sacramento. IRC in Northern California also has a team comprised solely of Department of Justice Accredited Representatives, who are supervised by the Senior Immigration Program Manager. The two teams work closely together.

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Managing Attorney will oversee immigration legal services being provided by attorneys and DOJ accredited representatives in Northern California (Sacramento, Oakland, and Turlock). Legal services include asylum, removal defense, and low-cost services to refugees, immigrants, and other community member seeking adjustment of status, family reunification, naturalization, and other immigration benefits. The Managing Attorney will work closely with the Senior Immigration Program Manager on funding and strategy for legal services in Northern California.

The Managing Attorney will bring not only legal expertise and a passion for this area of work, but also the ability to motivate and mentor a team of legal professionals in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The position will work in close collaboration with a range of community partners and the Legal Services Technical Unit (TU) at IRC's headquarters, which oversees IRC's 24 legal service programs across the US, including four offices that have removal defense programs.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee legal strategy through daily direct supervision of a team of legal practitioners, including attorneys and Department of Justice-accredited representatives.
• Employ adaptive management techniques to provide regular individual supervision and support; mentor staff, set clear performance expectations and goals, give regular performance feedback, help prioritize workloads, help troubleshoot challenges, and maintain appropriate professional development plans.
• Develop and monitor intake procedures, case acceptance policies, and caseload targets and limits.
• Provide direct legal representation to a limited caseload of individuals in immigration court, before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and/or before USCIS,
• Actively co-facilitate and support grant opening, grant review, and grant closing meetings, and lead all aspects of grant cycle, including developing/implementing monitoring & evaluation plans.
• Ensure program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately and reported timely, using IRC's legal case management database and other relevant case management systems.
• Ensure effective integration of internships and volunteers within programs.
• Collaborate with other IRC program areas as appropriate to ensure client-centered service.
• Establish, maintain and periodically refresh legal services program policies and procedures in collaboration with IRC's Legal Services Technical Unit; oversee and/or conduct regular case file reviews (paper files and electronic case files) to ensure compliance with legal case management procedures.
• Create and maintain a viable outreach strategy to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with community-based organizations, the private bar, and nonprofit legal providers; pursue program initiatives with partners that further goals and address unmet demand.
• Serve as an in-house expert on US immigration law by updating internal IRC colleagues on changes in immigration law affecting IRC's clients as needed.
• Serve on Senior Management Team/Leadership Team and work effectively across programs to further IRC's mission. Contribute to and support office-wide Strategic Action Plan.
• Work closely with the Senior Immigration Program Manager, HQ Legal Services Technical Unit and field offices as part of IRC's immigration network.
• Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Position Reports to: Executive Director, Northern California. Position liaises closely with HQ Legal Services Technical Unit.

Position Directly Supervises:4 staff attorneys, 2 DOJ Accredited Representatives, and interns.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and member in good standing of any state bar;
• 5 years' experience or more providing direct representation in immigration court and before USCIS to asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking relief from removal;
• At least 2 years of experience providing supervision to attorneys and/or DOJ accredited representatives in a legal services context. Program management experience preferred.
• Experience with affirmative applications before USCIS (eg, adjustment of status, naturalization, I-130s);
• Strong legal supervision skills and superb legal judgment;
• Ability to oversee and provide supervision on a reasonably high case volume and work under time pressure;
• Experience organizing and facilitating immigration workshops and immigration information sessions;
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills;
• Bilingual in one or more languages preferred (eg, Spanish, French, Arabic);
• Deep commitment to working with humanitarian immigrants;
• Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills;
• Desire to join a team working to protect due process and immigrant rights; and
• Must have ability to travel frequently in and around the service area to engage with clients and community partners.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
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